LCM( 1731, 81218520 ) = 81218520
Step 1 : Write the given numbers in a horizontal line.
| 1731 | 81218520 |
Step 2 : Divide the given numbers by smallest prime number. In this example we can divide by 2.
(if any number is not divisible by 2, write it down unchanged)
| 2 | 1731 | 81218520 |
| 1731 | 40609260 |
Step 3 : Continue dividing by prime numbers till we get 1 in all columns.
| 2 | 1731 | 81218520 |
| 2 | 1731 | 40609260 |
| 2 | 1731 | 20304630 |
| 3 | 1731 | 10152315 |
| 3 | 577 | 3384105 |
| 5 | 577 | 1128035 |
| 17 | 577 | 225607 |
| 23 | 577 | 13271 |
| 577 | 577 | 577 |
| 1 | 1 |
Step 4 : Multiply numbers in first column to get LCM.
LCM( 1731, 81218520 ) = 2 · 2 · 2 · 3 · 3 · 5 · 17 · 23 · 577 = 81218520 .
This solution can be visualized using a Venn diagram.
The LCM is equal to the product of all the numbers on the diagram.